11/21/2025
The statement, made by Paul Armentano, Deputy Director of the National Organization for the Reform of Ma*****na Laws, refers to a recent U.S. Justice Department policy update regarding the rigorous prosecution of low-level ma*****na violations by federal authorities. In November 2025, U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming Darrin Smith announced a policy change, stating that federal prosecutors will rigorously prosecute all low-level ma*****na violations, effectively reversing prior administrative guidance from the Biden administration that generally de-emphasized such cases. Armentano's statement highlights the perceived contradiction between this renewed federal enforcement focus and comments made by Donald Trump during his campaign, where he expressed a desire not to waste government resources arresting individuals for personal amounts of cannabis.